Weening off

It's with the heaviest of hearts today that I have decided to stop nursing.
From the start 6 weeks ago we had a challenge in front of us. LO (little one) had a slight tongue tie and I have flat nipples. We have used a Nipple shield to nurse and each time it's a battle.
In addition he hasn't been getting enough (or I'm not making enough) so I had to start supplementing with formula way earlier then I ever wanted to do.
The crazy thing is today he had a 3 oz bottle at 1p then a 4 oz at 3p.. and the kid is finally satisfied. I couldn't have given that to him if I tried.
It's for the best. He is going to be nourished and feeding will be less of a struggle for the both of us. I'll keep pumping until my supply is gone.

Comments (20)

Good for you. You're doing what's best for baby. I had a hard time with my first and the stress of wondering if baby is getting enough and what I was doing wrong sent me into PPD. Formula isn't poison. Your baby is so fortunate to have you as a mama.

I had to start supplementing formula because my son kept losing weight. I cried and cried. But seeing him happier and not hungry made me happy. I pump and give him what I can and extra is formula. His pediatrician said it’s not a bad idea to nurse him once a day if I still want that so we do. It is so much less stressful because I know he’s getting fed so it’s just bonding time. Hang in there, you’re doing great for your LO (little one)

Fed is best. I tried nursing in the beginning, but my poor girl wasn't latching correctly. After help from lactation specialists who couldn't see anything wrong and help from my sister, we eventually decided to switch fully to formula fed. I couldn't find time during the day to pump and feed her. That way. My daughter was getting so frustrated while trying to nurse. I began to cry from the pain which would make her cry. It wasn't worth the pain and the stress for the two of us. Don't feel bad about it not working out. Your baby will thrive on formula.

Fed is best. I tried nursing in the beginning, but my poor girl wasn't la...

Posted
08/21/2018

Fed is best. I tried nursing in the beginning, but my poor girl wasn't latching correctly. After help from lactation specialists who couldn't see anything wrong and help from my sister, we eventually decided to switch fully to formula fed. I couldn't find time during the day to pump and feed her. That way. My daughter was getting so frustrated while trying to nurse. I began to cry from the pain which would make her cry. It wasn't worth the pain and the stress for the two of us. Don't feel bad about it not working out. Your baby will thrive on formula.

Atleast you got it for that long honey... from my son having colic, my supply decreasing due to me not being able to pump enough times a day, sleep deprived.. I tried too he got the most important part of it so I’m told.. I too was very upset bc I wanted to be able to store milk etc.. I’ve seen two lactation specialist the last one did a suck test and told me it will take a lot of practice for him to latch even with the shield.. something to do with the way he holds his tongue .. she also said he is nipple confused. Colic put me over the edge I’m letting my supply go ..

My son was 7 wks early & struggled from the beginning. The first month out of the nicu we would nurse, bottle feed then pump. Even with a nipple shield he couldnt transfer & was always fussy on breast. He does have reflux but was medicated & took bottke great so pretty sure he fussed bc he couldnt get much milk. so i stopped forcing him & exclusively pumped. went as long as i could, while also cutting out dairy soy beans onions and nuts to try to help his poor stomach. he had constant constipation & gas that he couldnt pass, would scream for hours. I just finally quit pumping & switched to similac alimentum formula. Guess what? His stomach is better than its ever been. he can pass gas & only needs his miralax twice a week now. Something else I wss eating was making him worse. If I hadnt have forced myself to keep pumping bc of the pressure he would have gotten better a month ago! Fed is truly best in some situations!

You did great momma!
My son was 7 wks early & struggled from the beginnin...

Posted
08/21/2018

You did great momma!
My son was 7 wks early & struggled from the beginning. The first month out of the nicu we would nurse, bottle feed then pump. Even with a nipple shield he couldnt transfer & was always fussy on breast. He does have reflux but was medicated & took bottke great so pretty sure he fussed bc he couldnt get much milk. so i stopped forcing him & exclusively pumped. went as long as i could, while also cutting out dairy soy beans onions and nuts to try to help his poor stomach. he had constant constipation & gas that he couldnt pass, would scream for hours. I just finally quit pumping & switched to similac alimentum formula. Guess what? His stomach is better than its ever been. he can pass gas & only needs his miralax twice a week now. Something else I wss eating was making him worse. If I hadnt have forced myself to keep pumping bc of the pressure he would have gotten better a month ago! Fed is truly best in some situations!

Love this. I have a freezer full of pumped milk. I'm afraid to feed him..

Love this. I have a freezer full of pumped milk. I'm afraid to feed him..

Posted
08/21/2018

Love this. I have a freezer full of pumped milk. I'm afraid to feed him..

There's nothing wrong with combo feeding him both! When you start running low on your freezer stash, start feeding him less and less of the breast milk and more of the formula to prepare him to be fully formula fed. There's also nothing wrong with choosing to throw away your stash. Don't let anyone's negativity tell you otherwise. You're a fantastic mama. Either way you choose will definitely not hurt your child. It's your choice.

Someone told me "you don't get a prize for breastfeeding your child... you get the same kid at the end of the day." I'm still pumping a bit. She gets 1-2 bottles of breastmilk a day and the rest is formula. And she's fine. She will be fine when I decide I'm done with that and she gets all formula. Fed is best.

There's nothing wrong with combo feeding him both! When you start running...

Posted
08/21/2018

There's nothing wrong with combo feeding him both! When you start running low on your freezer stash, start feeding him less and less of the breast milk and more of the formula to prepare him to be fully formula fed. There's also nothing wrong with choosing to throw away your stash. Don't let anyone's negativity tell you otherwise. You're a fantastic mama. Either way you choose will definitely not hurt your child. It's your choice.

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